Dead Space producer would “love” to continue series

Dead Space executive producer Glen Schofield has told videogaming247 that the promising new EA horror game is likely to just be the start of an ongoing series.

“We can definitely do more with this world,” he said. “And I’d love to.”

Dead Space – currently in development in California and set for release 360, PS3 and PC on Hallowe’en this year – is already surrounding itself with cross-media properties, including a graphic novel and recently confirmed cartoon film.

“We have written a huge story with a rich universe and characters,” said Schofield. “That’s why we have a comic series and an animated feature.”

But the focus right now is on getting the game out of the door, the dev lead was at pains to point out, and not on what comes next.

“We are completely focused on this game,” he said. “Right now every waking moment is dedicated to Dead Space.”

Hit the link for the rest of Glen’s answers to our questions, including confirmation that the game will be HUD-free and the “complete misquote” regarding the use of pause during play.

Videogaming247: The lead character’s called “Isaac Clarke”? Either we’re missing the point, or you guys are deep sci-fi geeks. Which one is it?

Glen Schofield: We’re deep sci-fi geeks but you could still be missing the point. But the fact that you know we must be sci-fi geeks by his name also means you must be a geek as well, right?

A brand new horror IP from a company of EA’s size doesn’t come along very often, so there’s a lot of excitement out there for Dead Space. What aspects of the game specifically do you think are going to advance the genre?

I think putting a horror game in space is new for video games. It makes perfect sense to me but seems like most survival horror games have been in present day on earth. I think our enemies and weapons will push the genre. The whole idea of dismembering enemies yet they keep coming at you is pretty cool too. Then throw in some dismemberment in zero-g and I think we’ve got something fresh.

It looks as though you’re going to a completely HUD-free style. Is this true, and if so, how does this approach evoke tension in the player?

Yes its true – no on-screen HUD. The major info is on his “rig”. The inventory, map, etc, all are on a projected hologram in real time. By not pausing to use your inventory, access your map or get other info, you need to be prepared before an encounter or run to a safe place unless you want to get mauled.

You mentioned in a previous interview that you were thinking about removing the pause option. Can you expand on that decision? Will it apply to both PC and console versions?

That was a complete misquote. What I was saying is there is no pausing to get to your inventory, map, etc. We have to have a pause button: the console makers require it. Some games pause to go to their inventory; we didn’t want to because we thought it was a “cheat”, if you will. You could pause the game, get more ammo, change your weapon, take a dump then come back and continue your battle all nice and fresh. We’ll let you take a dump but you can’t get all beefed-up unless you’re in-game.

We could be cynical and say Dead Space looks like a fusion of Event Horizon and Silent Hill. Are we wrong?

You just might be cynical.

Finally, do you have plans for downloadable content for the game? Are you working on the assumption that Dead Space will run as a franchise, as opposed to a single project?

We are completely focused on this game. Right now every waking moment is dedicated to Dead Space. We have written a huge story with a rich universe and characters. That’s why we have a comic series and an animated feature. So we can definitely do more with this world. And I’d love to.